Free and fair elections in DC must proceed; Michigan must not be complicit in the denial of democracy anywhere, and if we don’t stand for DC, when we are next, who will stand with us?

Governor Whitmer, at the request of the fascist Trump regime, is supporting the federal government in subverting democracy in Washington, D.C. by deploying the Michigan National Guard to the city ahead of its June 16th election.

The threat to working-class and minority communities

This past September, both Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Vice President J.D. Vance suggested that National Guard units be sent to Detroit for the upcoming midterm elections. Whitmer must face the facts that the deployment of National Guard forces to majority-Black and working-class cities during elections only serves one purpose: to threaten democracy. Capitulating and collaborating with fascism by participating in the military occupation of D.C. will not protect Michigan from the anti-democratic, billionaire agenda of the Trump regime.

Following her loud support for the Saline Data Center project and rejection of a proposal to halt further data center construction in Michigan, deploying the Michigan National Guard to D.C. would be yet another betrayal of the working class and democracy.

For immediate accountability

Recently, Attorney General Dana Nessel signed an amicus brief opposing National Guard deployments. However, with her prosecution of students protesting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, it is clear that the people of Michigan must apply pressure to ensure she maintains her opposition to deployment.

Free DC, a local campaign in Washington, D.C. defending its limited Home Rule, is calling on all allies to oppose the military occupation of the city and to contact Governor Whitmer’s office and Attorney General Dana Nessel to demand the removal of the Michigan National Guard from D.C.

Take action!

We urge all allies to contact state leadership immediately and demand the removal of the Michigan National Guard from D.C.:

Governor’s Office

Call: (517) 335-7858

Email: governorsoffice@michigan.gov

Attorney General’s Office

Call: (517) 373-1110

Email: miag@michigan.gov

The opinions of the author do not necessarily reflect the positions of the CPUSA.

Image: National Guard protects U.S. Capitol. Virginia Guard on Flickr. Creative Commons.